Sunday, October 23, 2011
PA 200K - 10/22/2011
Yesterday I rode what is likely my final brevet of the year, an Eastern PA 200K, another great event organized by Tom Rosenbauer. Yesterday Tom offer both a 150K and a 200K event, and it was a very good turnout for a Fall afternoon. Although the weather forecast was for sunny skies and temperatures close to 60, we had cloudy and much cooler temperatures all day, making me think of the coming winter ahead. Even though I have ridden a number of events this Fall, trying to work of a few extra pounds put on at the end of the summer, I found myself really struggling towards the end of the day, with the over 10,000 feet of climbing, and some stomach cramps in the final hours.
I was helped in those final hours by riding with my friend John Clamp, whom I had not ridden a brevet with since the Spring. John is a very strong rider, but yesterday he took things to new levels by riding a fixed gear bike on this challenging ride, which I had trouble comprehending all day, as John passed me on the hills while I was pounding away in my granny ring.
I had so much fun, and really enjoyed riding the series in PA this year, in my second year of doing brevets. I cant imagine a finer RBA than Tom, and we capped yesterday off with a great BBQ, and excellent support by yesterday's volunteers, Len, Shane, and Shane's daughter, Victoria, who all helped us throughout the day.
I learned a lot this year, and will be looking forward to the challenges that 2012 will bring.
Preparing to take off on our 200K @ 7:30 outside the Weisel Hostel
Jon & Tim Crossing Belvedere Bridge
Tim at the Top of Fox Gap Climb
Rick, Tim & John at the finish of the ride, ready to take down some BBQ!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sea Gull Century - MD - 10/15/11
Well, this started out initially as a blog about Randonneuring for me, but there are so many additional cool things that we can experience within our great sport. This past weekend, my good friend, Paul Whelan, who took up cycling several years ago, was riding in his first ever Century, the massive Sea Gull Century, and asked me down to his beach house in Ocean City, MD, which my family and I have been invited to many times, but for different reasons, have never been able to make the trip. I was able to take Friday off, and Paul and I were able to get a nice ride in Friday morning, before a round of golf at a beautiful course, and 12 hours of "hydration", but not the type of hydration that is normally recommended for cycling, let alone a challenging event.
I was very impressed with the organization of this great event. I am not exactly sure how many riders participated, I believe at least 8000, and I heard as many as 10,000? We had a nice, clear, crisp day to ride, with temperatures in the afternoon in the low 70's, with not a could in the sky. The roads were flat, well marked, and very pretty. That said, there is more to this story, as I cold front had moved through the day before, and for most of the ride, there were 25-25 mile wind gusts. As always with any long cycling events, the wind was directly in our face for the last 40 miles, and for as long as I have been riding, yesterday's winds were definetely some of the most challenging I have ridden in.
The best part of the weekend for me was not only a great weekend with a great friend, but being there to celebrate and help him complete his first Century, which he finished strongly, in challenging conditions, some of which we could not control, and some of which we could, but didn't, which is our history.
Paul, at the entrance to Assateague State Park, MD, known for it's wild horses
One of those famous wild horses, "not me"
Paul, and Tim, at the end of a great ride, and great event. "until next year"
I think I have one more long cycling event to complete, which will be next weekend's final Eastern PA 200K, which as always will be challenging & full of climbs. Then, into Cyclocross season #2 for me, for more pain & sufferring & getting my "a" kicked.
As always, thanks for riding, until next time..."keep onTruckin"
Monday, October 3, 2011
Keating's VT Ride
During the first weekend of October, our good friend Dan Keating invited many of us that ride together out of Brielle Cyclery, in Brielle, N.J., up to his wonderful home in Ludlow, VT. I have been riding with many people in this group for about the past 8 summers, since we have been fortunate enough to have a summer home nearby. Technically, this means that my family are not "Bennies", but certainly for some, that would be up for debate? My wife and I have developed my great friendships with this group of riders, and we had a wonderful weekend in VT. Unfortunately, like much of August & September in the Northeast, what looked to be a nice weather forecast early in the week, turned into a cold, rainy Saturday & Sunday in VT.
With some urging from myself, and 1-2 others, we were able to get most everyone out of the nice house & warm fire on Saturday for what turned out to be a nice & challenging 50 mile ride. As usual, although I had my iphone with me, I was too lazy to take it out of my pocket, which I really regret not taking any pictures of some of the devastating scences of destruction that we witnessed in a few places from Irene. I am talking about serious road erosion, or in fact, significant stretches of roads that just disappeared. It is one thing to watch stuff like this on the news, it is another to see it in person, even 5 weeks later.
Most importantly, this was a fun weekend, with good friends, sharing good times around a common bond, cycling.
A picture of the gang with our New Jersey's purchased for us by our gracious hosts Dan & Diane, from LBS, Mountain Cycology in Ludlow, VT.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
New Jersey Fall 200K
Yesterday I participated in a new brevet run in Central New Jersey which was put together by NJ Rando's Ron & Barb Anderson. This was my first Brevet since my DNF of the Shenandoah 1200K back in early June, and although I have been doing plenty of riding throughout the summer, it was really good to "get back in the saddle" before the end of the season.
The weather forecast called for potentially heavy rain all afternoon on Friday night, but we actually had a rain free day, although very humid. The route took us on some of the roads used in other NJ brevets, through Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean & Burlington Counties, but also some nice new roads, with somewhat varying terrain, which was great, instead of the mostly flatter roads through the NJ Pine barrens. The route was well planned by Ron, and excellent Q sheets for the first brevet that they put together.
I rode most of the day with 2 or 3 other riders, Rick Lentz, Norman Smeal, and later Roy Yates, whom I rode with quite a bit this year doing PA brevets, and who also had a successful PBP last month, which I enjoyed hearing about. The day was enjoyable, and we made good time. Most importantly, if this is my last brevet of this year, I am glad that I finished the year with a better feeling. I did say at the outset of this year, my 2nd, that I wanted to see where the journey would take me & what else I would learn, and I have learned a lot. Although my first attempt at a 1200K did not work out well for me at all, I would imagine that I will have learned from the entire experience and training, and the next time, I will also hope for some cooler weather.
As always, thanks for reading, and "Keep on Truckin!" A picture before departure on a grey, humid, Fall morning.
The weather forecast called for potentially heavy rain all afternoon on Friday night, but we actually had a rain free day, although very humid. The route took us on some of the roads used in other NJ brevets, through Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean & Burlington Counties, but also some nice new roads, with somewhat varying terrain, which was great, instead of the mostly flatter roads through the NJ Pine barrens. The route was well planned by Ron, and excellent Q sheets for the first brevet that they put together.
I rode most of the day with 2 or 3 other riders, Rick Lentz, Norman Smeal, and later Roy Yates, whom I rode with quite a bit this year doing PA brevets, and who also had a successful PBP last month, which I enjoyed hearing about. The day was enjoyable, and we made good time. Most importantly, if this is my last brevet of this year, I am glad that I finished the year with a better feeling. I did say at the outset of this year, my 2nd, that I wanted to see where the journey would take me & what else I would learn, and I have learned a lot. Although my first attempt at a 1200K did not work out well for me at all, I would imagine that I will have learned from the entire experience and training, and the next time, I will also hope for some cooler weather.
As always, thanks for reading, and "Keep on Truckin!" A picture before departure on a grey, humid, Fall morning.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Shena-NO-ah-1200K
Well, my attempt to complete the Shenandoah 1200K, failed very miserably a few days ago. When I had to withdraw, one of the first things my wife said to me was.....your still going to write about this in your blog right....., some support.
I arrived in Leesburg VA early Wed. evening of the night before the event, well rested, and ready to go, but scared given the brutal heat wave. It was in the upper 90's on the drive down, with the temp's forecasted to be close to 100 on Thursday, the first day of the event. I tired to be sensible on Wed. night for dinner. Grilled chicken, & grilled veggies, but the 2 small slider burgers seemed to good to pass up as a side dish, given all the miles I would be riding. Bad mistake! I was sound asleep by 8:00, and was awoken at 10:30 by some kids banging on the door and running away. Soon, I was drenched in sweat, but it wasn't from fear, but from the burgers, and I got sick several times during the night. After perhaps 2 hours sleep, the 3:00 alarm came very quickly.
10 of us set out at 4:00 A.M, and my GPS said it was 80 degrees at the start, with very high humidity. As I sweat incredibly, I set off with 2 bottles, and a Camelback, and of course my Endurolyte pills. We made it to the first control, Gettysburg by 9:00, and I had already felt like I had lost 5 pounds before the sun really came out, with a very weak stomach. By 11:30 A.M., I was starting to feel the same exact symptoms that I suffered 3 summers ago in Spain doing a trip across The Pyrenees, very weak, light headed, and very high heart rate. Before we even started any of the big climbs of the day, I was falling off rapidly, and although I tried resting a few times under some trees, I knew that I was in danger, and risked a serious health issue if I were to go on, let alone making some of the controls on time, and riding the rest of the ride potentially alone.
It was really amazing to me that after all of the training, and doing "well" in so many of the brevets this year in respect to time, the additional training all winter and spring, and all of the mental preparation, that I was abandoning this ride at only mile 95. I knew that I had problems riding in severe heat, and I was hoping to make it past that first day, (I never thought that I wouldn't) but really, stopping was the only decision I could make at that point. After informing Janet that I had withdrawn, I started to make my way back to Leesburg, and I thought that I could do so on some easier on flatter roads, but the afternoon heat made it even worse for me. At one point, after resting for 30 minutes, I made it another 5 miles before I pulled into a gas station near a big highway, and asked 4 people in pick up trucks if they were going south and could give me a ride, and finally, the 5th, one of our country's fine soldiers, Joe from Mississippi, drove me 25 miles to Fredricksburg, which was gladly welcomed & needed. After another rest of 30 minutes, I tried riding again, and made it about 4 miles before getting really sick on the side of a busy highway. I sat on the side of a 4 lane highway hoping a police officer would see me & stop, but after 20 minutes with no luck, I ran my bike across the 4 lane highway to get near the left hand split to Leesburg, knowing that I could either take hours to make it back the last 30 miles, or beg another ride (would have been the case), but I looked up, and a fine fellow cyclist in a Subaru wagon with a bike rack had pulled over and asked if I needed any help? Dan drove me back to my hotel, and I cant thank him enough for his kindness. I was also only in the car for minutes before what seemed like a small tornado went by the area.
It has taken me a few days to recover. Of course I am disappointed, but the weather is the weather and I am not sure what I could have done differently. I hope to attempt another 1200K in the future, but for now, back to road cycling for a while before Cyclocross season in the Fall.
I said before I started my 2nd Rando season that I was hoping to learn more and see where the road would take me? Well, I learned a lot this year. I met a lot of great new Randonneurs doing the fabulous Eastern PA Series run by Tom Rosenbauer. I hope that the remainder of the survivors in The Shen 1200k have finished safely by now, and I look forward to hearing about it.
Thanks for reading, and until next time "Keep on Truckin"
I arrived in Leesburg VA early Wed. evening of the night before the event, well rested, and ready to go, but scared given the brutal heat wave. It was in the upper 90's on the drive down, with the temp's forecasted to be close to 100 on Thursday, the first day of the event. I tired to be sensible on Wed. night for dinner. Grilled chicken, & grilled veggies, but the 2 small slider burgers seemed to good to pass up as a side dish, given all the miles I would be riding. Bad mistake! I was sound asleep by 8:00, and was awoken at 10:30 by some kids banging on the door and running away. Soon, I was drenched in sweat, but it wasn't from fear, but from the burgers, and I got sick several times during the night. After perhaps 2 hours sleep, the 3:00 alarm came very quickly.
10 of us set out at 4:00 A.M, and my GPS said it was 80 degrees at the start, with very high humidity. As I sweat incredibly, I set off with 2 bottles, and a Camelback, and of course my Endurolyte pills. We made it to the first control, Gettysburg by 9:00, and I had already felt like I had lost 5 pounds before the sun really came out, with a very weak stomach. By 11:30 A.M., I was starting to feel the same exact symptoms that I suffered 3 summers ago in Spain doing a trip across The Pyrenees, very weak, light headed, and very high heart rate. Before we even started any of the big climbs of the day, I was falling off rapidly, and although I tried resting a few times under some trees, I knew that I was in danger, and risked a serious health issue if I were to go on, let alone making some of the controls on time, and riding the rest of the ride potentially alone.
It was really amazing to me that after all of the training, and doing "well" in so many of the brevets this year in respect to time, the additional training all winter and spring, and all of the mental preparation, that I was abandoning this ride at only mile 95. I knew that I had problems riding in severe heat, and I was hoping to make it past that first day, (I never thought that I wouldn't) but really, stopping was the only decision I could make at that point. After informing Janet that I had withdrawn, I started to make my way back to Leesburg, and I thought that I could do so on some easier on flatter roads, but the afternoon heat made it even worse for me. At one point, after resting for 30 minutes, I made it another 5 miles before I pulled into a gas station near a big highway, and asked 4 people in pick up trucks if they were going south and could give me a ride, and finally, the 5th, one of our country's fine soldiers, Joe from Mississippi, drove me 25 miles to Fredricksburg, which was gladly welcomed & needed. After another rest of 30 minutes, I tried riding again, and made it about 4 miles before getting really sick on the side of a busy highway. I sat on the side of a 4 lane highway hoping a police officer would see me & stop, but after 20 minutes with no luck, I ran my bike across the 4 lane highway to get near the left hand split to Leesburg, knowing that I could either take hours to make it back the last 30 miles, or beg another ride (would have been the case), but I looked up, and a fine fellow cyclist in a Subaru wagon with a bike rack had pulled over and asked if I needed any help? Dan drove me back to my hotel, and I cant thank him enough for his kindness. I was also only in the car for minutes before what seemed like a small tornado went by the area.
It has taken me a few days to recover. Of course I am disappointed, but the weather is the weather and I am not sure what I could have done differently. I hope to attempt another 1200K in the future, but for now, back to road cycling for a while before Cyclocross season in the Fall.
I said before I started my 2nd Rando season that I was hoping to learn more and see where the road would take me? Well, I learned a lot this year. I met a lot of great new Randonneurs doing the fabulous Eastern PA Series run by Tom Rosenbauer. I hope that the remainder of the survivors in The Shen 1200k have finished safely by now, and I look forward to hearing about it.
Thanks for reading, and until next time "Keep on Truckin"
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Summer Breeze
This past Memorial Day weekend, I was able to get back on a bike after a weeks recovery, or 5 days off a bike after a very tough PA 600k. We finally had some nice warm weather here in NJ, and it was the first time that my family was able to get down to our beach house, after a very busy "family" spring.
Riding this past weekend, reminded me again the diversity of our sport, and some of the many reasons why we ride. It was great seeing and riding with many of my "shore" friends, that I ride with during these 3-4 months of the year, and it also seemed to be the first time in many months that I was actually able to go on a 2-3 hour, fast group ride, after riding so many brevets and long distance brevet training rides throughout the Spring. Although my legs were still working their way back in to form on Saturday, by Sunday I felt great again, and it was fun knowing that I could push myself to the limit, yet it "would all be over in a short period" of time.
Although I had some doubts about my commitment or sanity in riding The Shenandoah 1200K early last week after the completion of the PA 600K, those doubts soon passed, and a week from today I will have been underway, and I am hoping that all of the preparation will pay off.
As a very long time "Dead Head", I am not really sure why I never made it to a Phish Concert until last night, but what a treat and awesome show. Phish is really an amazing live band, and I may need to call upon some of those good tunes and vibes next week in the dreary hours.
Until next time, thanks for reading and "Keep on Truckin"
Not a Cycling photo, just the view of our Life Guard Stand from my Beach Chair in Spring lake N.J. this past Memorial Day
Riding this past weekend, reminded me again the diversity of our sport, and some of the many reasons why we ride. It was great seeing and riding with many of my "shore" friends, that I ride with during these 3-4 months of the year, and it also seemed to be the first time in many months that I was actually able to go on a 2-3 hour, fast group ride, after riding so many brevets and long distance brevet training rides throughout the Spring. Although my legs were still working their way back in to form on Saturday, by Sunday I felt great again, and it was fun knowing that I could push myself to the limit, yet it "would all be over in a short period" of time.
Although I had some doubts about my commitment or sanity in riding The Shenandoah 1200K early last week after the completion of the PA 600K, those doubts soon passed, and a week from today I will have been underway, and I am hoping that all of the preparation will pay off.
As a very long time "Dead Head", I am not really sure why I never made it to a Phish Concert until last night, but what a treat and awesome show. Phish is really an amazing live band, and I may need to call upon some of those good tunes and vibes next week in the dreary hours.
Until next time, thanks for reading and "Keep on Truckin"
Thursday, May 26, 2011
PA 600K, 5/21/2011
Last Saturday morning at 4 A.M., 25 of us set off for the Eastern PA 600K, which was really a great, challenging & scenic ride. Although humid most of the day, I stayed mostly dry, with the exception of a 30 minute down pour after lunch. My plan, before the ride started, was to sleep for 2 hours or so, or maximum of 3 hours before being on the road again, which would occur after 400K, and arriving back to the starting hotel. Within 30 minutes of riding, I was already asking a few of my Rando friends, "what is your sleep strategy", and Bill Fischer indicated that he planned to ride through the night, and right away I agreed to join him, as usual...., so much for planning. After an easy start and likely 10 of us riding into the second control together, Bill & I decided not to stop for breakfast at the 2nd control, and off we went. A few hours later, Gavin Biebuyck caught up with us, and the 3 of us rode the next 22 hours together.
I had ridden with both Bill & Gavin a few times this year doing the PA Series, with this being Gavin's first year as a Rando, and being a very strong rider. Bill is a veteran of many years of Randonneuring, and many events, and I have learned a lot from him during the past several months. We all worked well together, and I have to say that it was a real pleasure riding with them during this event.
What else have I learned this year? Well, I blew up my 2nd Garmin again on this ride, although I was able to get it going temporarily back in the hotel when I plugged it in, but when I got back outside, it wouldnt read any satellites. When i turned it on again a few nights later ready to call Garmin, it was working again. I like the Garmin 800 if it would work, but it is proving very difficult to use on long rides and i still havent figured out yet if the problem is charging from my E-Werks with the light on, as it seems to work fine with the light off during the day, or just long routes, even though I broke the 600K into 3 separate routes, and this broke down again, the exact same period, with 10 miles to go before finishing a 400K distance. Strange, but true.....
Thoughts....this was my second 600K, the first being last year doing the NJ 600K, when we started at 10 PM, and it was down the NJ shore, during the summer. But while riding throughout back country Lancaster during the middle hours of the night, I am amazed to see so many people staying up late into the middle of the night, or out partying in their yards? True, I am getting old, and then again, I can only imagine how strange it seems to see 3 riders cruising by in the middle of the night on bikes...
When life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door.......? When Bill, Gavin & I pulled into our 2nd to last Control at 5:30 AM after riding through a peaceful, calm night with the stars shining, the sun was starting to come up, and I was already starting to feel great about knocking off those final 64 miles and being done well before 11 AM. Within 5 minutes of our departure, the fog & wind rolled in, and the next 41 miles to the next control were really brutal for me, especially as my mindset had just changed to being so positive with the sun shining. As I had no Garmin, and didnt want to ask Bill or Gavin what time it was, when we arrived at the next control, I thought at best it would be 11:00, and was pleasantly stunned to learn when my card was signed, that it was "only" 9:15. Once we got started again, the last 22 miles were less painful. Total time for the 3 of us, 31 hours 20 minutes.
I really enjoyed riding with the NJ Randonneurs last year, and I will certainly do more rides in NJ, but I cant say enough about the job that Tom Rosenbaur-Eastern PA RBA does with these rides, truly the "Gold Standard". His rides are very challenging, very well mapped out, supported, and he encourages all of the riders. I can not say enough what a great job he, and all of the volunteers do, and I want to thank everyone. Even though I live in NJ, I will volunteer for some events next year, and I look forward to more PA events, and i would encourage anyone else in the area to come out and enjoy the fun.
Lastly, as I write, I am now 2 weeks away from The Shenandoah 1200K, and I have to say, i have had some second thoughts during the week, especially as I just learned today that there are only 10 riders signed up for the brevet. I have trained hard, and put a lot of thought into this, and I intend to do a little riding this weekend, enjoy our shore house for the first time thus far this year, do some drinking with my friends, and make the final decision by Monday.
Until my next update, thanks for reading, "Keep on Truckin"
Gavin, Bill & myself, back in the hotel after the finish! Tired, but Happy.......
I had ridden with both Bill & Gavin a few times this year doing the PA Series, with this being Gavin's first year as a Rando, and being a very strong rider. Bill is a veteran of many years of Randonneuring, and many events, and I have learned a lot from him during the past several months. We all worked well together, and I have to say that it was a real pleasure riding with them during this event.
What else have I learned this year? Well, I blew up my 2nd Garmin again on this ride, although I was able to get it going temporarily back in the hotel when I plugged it in, but when I got back outside, it wouldnt read any satellites. When i turned it on again a few nights later ready to call Garmin, it was working again. I like the Garmin 800 if it would work, but it is proving very difficult to use on long rides and i still havent figured out yet if the problem is charging from my E-Werks with the light on, as it seems to work fine with the light off during the day, or just long routes, even though I broke the 600K into 3 separate routes, and this broke down again, the exact same period, with 10 miles to go before finishing a 400K distance. Strange, but true.....
Thoughts....this was my second 600K, the first being last year doing the NJ 600K, when we started at 10 PM, and it was down the NJ shore, during the summer. But while riding throughout back country Lancaster during the middle hours of the night, I am amazed to see so many people staying up late into the middle of the night, or out partying in their yards? True, I am getting old, and then again, I can only imagine how strange it seems to see 3 riders cruising by in the middle of the night on bikes...
When life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door.......? When Bill, Gavin & I pulled into our 2nd to last Control at 5:30 AM after riding through a peaceful, calm night with the stars shining, the sun was starting to come up, and I was already starting to feel great about knocking off those final 64 miles and being done well before 11 AM. Within 5 minutes of our departure, the fog & wind rolled in, and the next 41 miles to the next control were really brutal for me, especially as my mindset had just changed to being so positive with the sun shining. As I had no Garmin, and didnt want to ask Bill or Gavin what time it was, when we arrived at the next control, I thought at best it would be 11:00, and was pleasantly stunned to learn when my card was signed, that it was "only" 9:15. Once we got started again, the last 22 miles were less painful. Total time for the 3 of us, 31 hours 20 minutes.
I really enjoyed riding with the NJ Randonneurs last year, and I will certainly do more rides in NJ, but I cant say enough about the job that Tom Rosenbaur-Eastern PA RBA does with these rides, truly the "Gold Standard". His rides are very challenging, very well mapped out, supported, and he encourages all of the riders. I can not say enough what a great job he, and all of the volunteers do, and I want to thank everyone. Even though I live in NJ, I will volunteer for some events next year, and I look forward to more PA events, and i would encourage anyone else in the area to come out and enjoy the fun.
Lastly, as I write, I am now 2 weeks away from The Shenandoah 1200K, and I have to say, i have had some second thoughts during the week, especially as I just learned today that there are only 10 riders signed up for the brevet. I have trained hard, and put a lot of thought into this, and I intend to do a little riding this weekend, enjoy our shore house for the first time thus far this year, do some drinking with my friends, and make the final decision by Monday.
Until my next update, thanks for reading, "Keep on Truckin"
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